Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel

Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel is a full-bodied, 100% Zinfandel from Lodi, California, bottled at 15.4% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2021 vintage earned 94 points from Wine Enthusiast, and Wine Spectator placed an earlier vintage among its Top 12 Zinfandels of 2012—a testament to the wine's consistency across releases.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.4%  |  Origin: Mokelumne River AVA, Lodi, California  |  Old Vine Zinfandel  |  Winery: Klinker Brick Winery

Production & Heritage

Klinker Brick Winery is located in the Mokelumne River AVA of Lodi, a region whose sandy loam soils and warm days have supported Zinfandel cultivation for well over a century. The Old Vine bottling draws fruit from up to 16 different vineyard blocks, with vine ages ranging from approximately 35 to 120 years old and an average age around 87 years. After fermentation, the wine is aged for 15 months in American oak barrels, a regimen that amplifies the richness inherent in fruit from these low-yielding, head-trained vines without overwhelming their varietal character.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with dark berries and ripe black plum, followed by layers of coffee, baking spices, and a subtle potpourri-like floral quality. There is an earthy undercurrent—forest floor and a trace of graphite—that signals real vineyard depth.

Taste: On the palate, the entry is immediately juicy, with concentrated black cherry and blackberry flavors carrying the wine into a mid-palate defined by bramble and black pepper. The American oak imparts a charred, spicy framework that supports the fruit without dominating it, and the tannins are substantial but well-integrated.

Finish: The finish is long and warming, with lingering dark plum, baking spice, and a gravelly minerality. The oak recedes gradually, leaving the fruit and pepper as the final impressions.

How to Drink Klinker Brick Old Vine Zin

This wine is at its best served at cellar temperature, around 60–65°F, in a large-bowled glass that lets the complex aromatics open up. Its bold, concentrated profile also makes it a powerful cocktail and mixed-drink ingredient. A Kalimotxo (red wine and cola over ice) works well here because the wine's tannic backbone and dark fruit stand up to the sweetness. A Sangria built around this Zin benefits from its natural spice and berry intensity. And a Red Wine Spritzer with sparkling water and a twist of orange peel can tame the high alcohol while preserving the fruit-forward character.

Best For

• A weekend barbecue centered around smoked brisket or ribs
• Gifting a red wine lover who gravitates toward bold, high-impact California reds
• Building a Lodi Zinfandel vertical tasting alongside different vintages
• A hearty winter dinner party featuring braised or grilled meats

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Klinker Brick Old Vine Zin taste like? It is a rich, concentrated Zinfandel dominated by black cherry, blackberry, and black plum, layered with black pepper, baking spices, and charred oak. The tannins are firm but balanced by the wine's generous fruit weight.

How does Klinker Brick Old Vine Zin compare to Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel? Both wines source from old, head-trained California Zinfandel vines, but Klinker Brick draws from vines averaging roughly 87 years old in Lodi's Mokelumne River AVA, while Bogle uses vines in the 60- to 80-year-old range. Klinker Brick generally runs higher in alcohol and concentration, and its 94-point Wine Enthusiast score for the 2021 vintage places it in a more critically acclaimed tier.

Is Klinker Brick Old Vine Zin good for sipping neat? Absolutely—its layered aromatics and extended finish reward careful, contemplative drinking. A slight chill to around 60–65°F helps balance the wine's 15.4% ABV and lets the fruit and spice details emerge clearly.

Where is Klinker Brick Old Vine Zin made? It is produced by Klinker Brick Winery in the Mokelumne River AVA of Lodi, California, a region in the northern San Joaquin Valley long recognized as one of America's premier Zinfandel growing areas.

What foods pair well with Klinker Brick Old Vine Zin? Smoked or grilled tri-tip benefits from the wine's peppery intensity. Slow-cooked pulled pork matches its sweetness and spice. Aged cheddar or Gouda echoes its caramel-oak tones. Eggplant Parmesan provides a savory, umami-driven counterpoint. Dark chocolate with sea salt brings out the wine's berry and baking-spice finish.

What sizes does Klinker Brick Old Vine Zin come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely distributed format.

Is Klinker Brick Old Vine Zin worth the price? It positions as a mid-range Zinfandel that consistently punches above its price tier in critical scores, making it strong value relative to other 90-plus-point old-vine Zinfandels from California.

Why Klinker Brick Old Vine Zin?

The defining advantage here is vine age. With blocks averaging 87 years old and some approaching 120, the fruit concentration is naturally intense—no winemaking trick can replicate what decades-old root systems extract from Lodi's sandy loam soils. The 94-point Wine Enthusiast rating for the 2021 vintage and a Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for the 2020 vintage confirm that the quality is not a one-off. Fifteen months in American oak adds structure without turning the wine into an oak-bomb, and the 100% Zinfandel varietal purity means what you taste is a direct expression of old-vine Lodi terroir. For drinkers who want a bold, honestly made California Zinfandel rooted in genuine vineyard heritage, this bottling sets a high bar at its price point.